[INTEL BRIEFING: TURF, STATIC, AND LIES] SUBJECT: The Corporate Leash (Understanding Faction Tiers)
You think founding a faction means you’re free? Cute. Get this through your skull: there is no such thing as an independent faction in The Bastion. There are only different lengths of leash, all held by the same corporate masters in the spires. The Civil Authority doesn’t care about justice; their job is to regulate the violence and make sure the machine keeps running. Your faction isn’t a rebellion; it’s a gear in that machine.
Understanding your place on the food chain is the key to survival. This is the hierarchy. This is the leash.
Tier 1: Street Scum (Unrecognized Crews)
This is where you start. A handful of bodies, a shared tag of glowing graffiti, and a dream. You have no official Rep on the Interlink. You don’t exist. To the CA, you’re just another pack of rats in the walls. To the bigger factions, you’re either fresh meat or a potential asset. Your goal at this stage isn’t to build an empire; it’s to make enough noise that the system is forced to give you a name.
Tier 2: Recognized Players (Street Factions)
You’ve survived. You’ve bled. You’ve earned enough Rep that your faction’s name shows up on the Interlink ledger. Congratulations, the CA now officially recognizes your right to exist… and to be taxed. At this tier, you can hold turf, run businesses, and engage in the city’s digital warfare. The CA will look the other way on your illicit activities, as long as you pay your dues and don’t disrupt the flow of Cal for their corporate masters . This is where most player factions live and die, fighting over the scraps the Corpos leave behind.
Tier 3: The Untouchables (Syndicates & Proxies)
This is the endgame. The factions at this level are no longer just gangs; they are assets. They have a direct, if secret, relationship with one of the megacorporations. They are the deniable proxies the Corpos use to wage war on each other — sabotaging rival shipments, stealing data, and controlling entire black markets . The CA gives them a wide berth because their leash is held by a hand that signs the CA’s paychecks. Reaching this level means you’re no longer just a piece in the game; you’re helping move the pieces for the real players. Just never forget who’s really in charge.
